My child isn't ill!!!

[BrownieBanana]

My child has been sent home from nursery because he is coughing. I explained this morning that he hasn't got covid (provided test results). That he's had a chest infection. Had antibiotics over the weekend. Doc said all good to be at nursery and that he is likely to be coughing for a few weeks as small kids can't clear their throats well. Went to pick him up and they've even said themselves he is right as rain bar the cough. Came home and he is hyper, happy, eating, drinking, coughing occasionally but that's it. There's literally nothing wrong with him. I've taken unpaid leave from work. Behind now with deadlines and am spending my afternoon in a theme park with my perfectly well son. Feel like taking him back!!! Has anyone else experienced this? £50 of nursery fees down the drain for nothing.

A chest infection is an illness.

Home based childcare eg nanny can care for ill child but you have to cover when they ill
Nursery won't take ill child but you won't be impacted by staff illness

Very mild at end of last week/over weekend, docs confirmed no longer contagious, they're writing a letter today to say he's fine to be at nursery. He's been sent home because he's still coughing which has been explained, not because he's unwell.

Yes which he no longer has

Residual coughing can go on for yonks with young kids after a bug, so I think it's a bit weird if he's actually well and happy in himself and has a diagnosed non-Covid condition that has been given treatment that nursery are saying he can't be in. Ours would be happy to take DD in same situation.

He's literally cartwheeling round the kitchen asking for ice cream

I would be furious and expecting them to reimbursement you a day
What the hell is wrong with them?

Ridiculous. Either covid has caused an extreme fear of coughs or nursery are trying to make life easier for themselves by sending children home. I would complain.

I've lost a day of wages and also a day of nursery fees for nothing. It's just so frustrating. Let my colleagues down. If he had a fever or was vomiting etc of course I would happily take him but, a cough for something which has been treated.

I assume your child wasn't at nursery during the Covid restrictions. We wasted £££ not working and waiting for PCR results due to endless coughs.

Ultimately it depends on the nursery's sickness policy. If they exclude on the basis of a cough then there's nothing you can do.

If they don't. Ask them which of your child's symptoms fit their policy.

Very strange these days, if typical a year ago.

Yes he was in nursery throughout the whole pandemic and once he had a negative test, as we currently do, they let them come back

If the dr says he's fine to attend then the nursery shouldn't be over ruling that - they aren't HCP! I'd complain, personally - a residual cough can go on for weeks. Are they going to ring you every day to pick up?

That's horrendous. I am currently working from home with a poxed up child and losing the nursery fees is sickening enough but over a cough like that I'd be causing them serious problems.

Honestly feel like taking him back

Really frustrating. I've had similar - I think my DC's nursery have become much more risk averse following covid, which is understandable from a human perspective but also really stressful as a working parent.

Ultimately I've decided to live with it as DC is settled, the nursery is good (the alternatives less so), and they move to school over the summer anyway. In my case I don't think kicking up a fuss will change anything and Im not willing to unsettle DC over this. YMMV.

A pp notes that they shouldn't be disagreeing with the doctor - i agree but IME this is par for the course - conjunctivitis a good example where public health advice is clear that it's usually viral and if the child is well in themselves they should attend school, but schools often exclude symptomatic children unless on (antibacterial) eye drops. HFM another example where schools often require exclusion in spite of medical views to the contrary.

I totally get that a nursery/school can (and should) exclude children who are contagious but if the dr is sure that he isn't, it's totally unreasonable of the nursery to take your money snd not provide the service. I would take him back.

If I told nursery that a doctor had cleared him to attend they’d be fine with it. I thought sending kids home with a cough had long ended!

I swapped nursery’s last year because of this. If my child so much a sneezed they sent him home, it was ridiculous. I honestly think they where doing it whenever they where short of staff.

Absolute rubbish!

The nursery set their policies and T&C’s (which you sign). It’s actually not up to the Dr to overrule those!

GP’s are notorious for saying kids are fine to attend childcare settings when actually they’re not (HFM being one example).

All that said in this case I think the nursery are in the wrong!

Would be interested to hear nursery's response to the GP letter op if you have time to update

T&C cover unwell and contagious conditions, not residual coughs where there is no threat to the health of other children and the child themselves is perfectly well!

I had a chest infection just over a month ago. I'm still coughing occasionally. I understand they have to be cautious and don't want poorly children there, but if he's negative for covid and well in himself, then I see no reason why he shouldn't be in nursery. If they sent home every kid for something that mild, they'd not be in business.

Staff shortages in the nursery maybe?

He's literally cartwheeling round the kitchen asking for ice cream

Take him back to nursery to show them these cartwheels he’s “literally” doing.